Loss and Bereavement — Mamas in Spirit Catholic Podcast and Ministry for Women

A Mini-Retreat in a Podcast

One Step at a Time with God with Elizabeth Blanke

One Step at a Time with God with Elizabeth Blanke

Elizabeth Blanke never could have imagined she’d be a young widow, on her own with three small children.

Elizabeth’s husband and high school sweetheart passed away unexpectedly from a sudden heart attack.

Hear how God guided Elizabeth one step at a time to face the unimaginable.

From planning the funeral to learning taxes to becoming the sole parent of their three children, Elizabeth leaned into God’s holy presence and supernatural provision—with God, she was able to attend to all the details while God attended to Elizabeth’s heart.

Listen to podcast and know that all things are truly possible with God.

Lindy WynneNovember 15, 2024Elizabeth Blanke, Elizabeth, Blanke, Blessed is She, death, dying, loss, husband, death of husband, grief, widowComment

Holy Balm on My Injured Heart with Jennifer Calabretta

Holy Balm on My Injured Heart with Jennifer Calabretta

Jennifer Calabretta’s childhood and early marriage were perfect in so many ways. But Jennifer never could have imagined what was to come.

Jennifer lost her second baby weeks after delivery to a rare muscle disorder. Doctors told her this would never happen again.

However, during one of Jennifer’s subsequent pregnancies, she learned that her daughter wouldn’t survive the very same disease.

Jennifer carried her baby throughout the remaining months of her pregnancy—and she and her husband were blessed with ten minutes with their daughter.

Jennifer experienced God deep within her throughout it all. God’s love was like holy balm to her injured heart.

In this vulnerable and joy-filled podcast, learn that God’s grace is sufficient. You will be blessed with God’s holy balm of the heart, too!

Lindy WynneNovember 15, 2024Jennifer, Jennifer Calabretta, Jennifer Calabretta], calabretta, Lindy Wynne, loss, infant lossComment

The Great Cry with Kathy Schmugge of the Diocese of Charleston

The Great Cry with Kathy Schmugge of the Diocese of Charleston

When Kathy Schmugge found out her baby didn’t have a heartbeat at about twelve weeks, she went out to her car and cried “The Great Cry.” In that moment Kathy mourned her baby in her womb, as well as previous babies lost.

Kathy felt held--she knew she was in the arms of God.

Kathy offers grief support through the Office of Family Life in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. Yet what makes her work so effective is that Kathy is a living witness to how to navigate grief close to God.

Kathy says, "A lot of people run from grief. Do it the way you need to do it. But don’t run away from it."

In this joy-filled and inspiring podcast, Kathy shares specific pieces of advice to help you grieve in the way you most need to with God. From stories of pregnancy loss to elder care to the death of her parents, Kathy will bless you with understanding, healing and hope.

Learn more about Kathy's work at charlestondiocese.org.

Lindy WynneNovember 15, 2024Cry, Tears, Mourning, Grief, Loss, Death, Dying, Kathy, Schmugge, Kathy Schmugge, Diocese of CharlestonComment

Fully Rely on God with Mary Margaret Lambert

Fully Rely on God with Mary Margaret Lambert

Mary Margaret Lambert vividly remembers chatting with her dad while he painted a ceramic frog the night before she lost him.

The next day Mary Margaret was devastated to learn her father and his wife died in the Nashville flood of 2010.

Little did Mary Margaret realize that the frog her father held in his hands would come to mean so much--F.R.O.G. means "Fully Rely on God."

Mary Margaret struggled with grief and got tired of hurting. She sought the Lord through writing and help through counseling to heal her broken heart.

The ceramic frog sits on Mary Margaret’s porch to this day, reminding her of her beloved father and our eternal reliance on God.

Lindy WynneNovember 15, 2024Mary Margaret Lambert, Lindy WynneComment

Creating a Legacy of God's Love with Karen Gambino

Creating a Legacy of God's Love with Karen Gambino

At 36 years old, Karen Gambino was surprised she felt like an orphan when she lost her mom--it was like she was missing a significant force in her life.

As Karen grieved, she sensed the importance of remembering and choosing to share the goodness of her mom with her family.

At first, Karen and her five sisters visited their mom's graveside. Soon all the family wanted to join in their annual ritual of remembrance.

In this moving podcast, hear how many generations gathered around Karen's mother's graveside on blankets, shared stories and sang songs to remember Karen's mother. As they raised their voices they discovered they were knit together eternally as family.

Listen and create a legacy of God's love in your family, too.

Lindy WynneNovember 12, 2024Karen Gambino, Legacy, God, God's, love, Christ, Catholic Mom, Catholic daughter, Catholic womenComment

Mamas in Spirit God Sought Me in My Sorrow with Emily Adams of The Little Souls

Mamas in Spirit God Sought Me in My Sorrow with Emily Adams of The Little Souls

When Emily and her husband went to a routine sonogram appointment seventeen weeks into her pregnancy, the technician struggled to find a heartbeat.

They were told they’d have to wait two hours for an ultrasound technician to take a closer look in the hope their baby was okay.

Emily knew she needed to go somewhere she felt safe—they were close to The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Emily and her husband headed to the noon Mass to wait.

While Emily felt wrapped in the sacredness of the Mass, she also was overwhelmed with worry and sorrow. Deep down she knew there would be no heartbeat as she prayed the Angelus “Be it done to me according to Thy word.”

Once it was confirmed the baby had no heartbeat, Emily knew she would deliver baby John David. She and her husband wanted to hold him.

Hear how God sought Emily through sorrow as she experienced His consolation and call to help others heal from sorrow.

Lindy WynneNovember 11, 2024Emily Adams, Emily, Adams, The Little Souls, infant loss, pregnancy loss, no heartbeat, baby loss, pregnancy, loss, death, dying, griefComment

Preparing Myself for Heaven with Kathy McLeroy of Celebrating the Saints

Preparing Myself for Heaven with Kathy McLeroy of Celebrating the Saints

Kathy McLeroy of Celebrating the Saints thinks her life could seem sad at first glance--she has lived through four serious illnesses and corresponding treatments over many decades. Kathy had Hodgkins Disease at twenty-one, breast cancer at forty-one, a massive heart attack at forty-six and now metastasized breast cancer.

While Kathy has faced these trials, she speaks to the wonderful life she has lived due to her faith in God and love of others.

Kathy trusts that when it is her time God will bring her home. Kathy is not afraid of dying; it is most difficult to leave her family.

There is no promise for any of us that we will have tomorrow. Kathy encourages listeners to treat each day as precious and live intentionally with those they love.

Preparing My Husband for Heaven with Kendra Tierney of Catholic All Year (CAY)

Preparing My Husband for Heaven with Kendra Tierney of Catholic All Year (CAY)

Kendra Tierney's husband Jim was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma sixteen years before he passed away last summer. Kendra faced great ambiguity beginning the day Jim was first diagnosed--that very morning Kendra chose to "wait to worry."

God carried and consoled Kendra each day as she trusted in the Lord and radically surrendered to His plan, rather than her own.

The rich tradition, prayers and Sacraments of our Catholic faith blessed Kendra as she prepared Jim for Heaven, processed all that was unfolding and walked with her children (ages 3-19) through the passing of their father.

Kendra shares intimate moments she witnessed God at work: Jim's last conversation before dying was "a good Confession" and the final thing he saw and ate was the Eucharist.

Kendra is a Catholic homemaker, homeschooler and mother of ten children. She created Catholic All Year (CAY) to use food, prayer, and conversation based around the liturgical calendar to share the lives of the saints and the beautiful truths and traditions of our Catholic faith.

Lindy WynneMay 3, 2023Kendra Tierney, Kendra, Tierney, Catholic All Year, CAYComment

Losing My Sweet Son Beckett with Stephanie Weinert

Losing My Sweet Son Beckett with Stephanie Weinert

In this Lent 2022 Catholic podcast Stephanie Weinert shares the story of her son in Heaven, Beckett. Beckett was unexpectedly diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome, a heart defect and later lung disease. Stephanie shares how God has spoken to her heart and carried her through this experience, including by whispering Psalm 46:5 into her soul, "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved."

Losing My Beloved Daughter with Tamara Mariea

Losing My Beloved Daughter with Tamara Mariea

Losing My Beloved Daughter with Tamara Mariea

Tamara Mariea and her husband, Jude lost their daughter, Chloe in a tragic car accident two years ago. Chloe was twenty-four years old.

Tamara shares how she and her family continue to carried by Christ, Mary and the activity of their faith as they face this unimaginable loss and grief.

Tamara shares what God has revealed to her as she spends time in silence tending to her broken heart and searching to find God everywhere she turns.

Lindy WynneDecember 7, 2022Tamara Mariea, Tamara, Mariea, Lindy Wynne, Lindy, Wynne, loss, child, daughter, death, Chloe, Chloe Mariea, Jude, Jude Mariea, mourning, losing a child, child loss, death of child, Catholic podcast for women, Catholic podcast for momsComment

Losing My Baby Girl with Elizabeth Abaray with Forever our Angel

Losing My Baby Girl with Elizabeth Abaray with Forever our Angel

Elizabeth Abaray shares the story of losing her beloved baby girl, Delia Grace, and the unfathomable sorrow of losing a child. She talks about how when we allow God to change us through our suffering, we become more of who God created us to be.

Elizabeth explores the importance of walking with one another and using our pain for the greater glory of God.

Elizabeth has written a children’s book "Hugs for You, Kisses for You." It is a resource for children ages seven and under to support them during times of loss and to help them to know that nothing--not even death--can separate us from those we love.

Lindy WynneNovember 5, 2022Forever our Angel, Forever, Angel, Our, Elizabeth, Abaray, Elizabeth Abaray, child loss, infant loss, Catholic, Catholic child loss, Catholic child death, child, death, infant, loss, Lindy Wynne, Lindy, Wynne, eternal lifeComment

Presenting Our Sister for Heaven with Amy D'Ambra of My Saint My Hero

Presenting Our Sister for Heaven with Amy D'Ambra of My Saint My Hero

Amy D'Ambra of My Saint My Hero shares the story of accompanying her beloved sister, Judy as she prepared for Heaven.

Amy is the youngest of five sisters. Judy was diagnosed with a rapid-progressing form of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) almost two years ago.

This diagnosis took Amy and those dearest to her on a journey of the soul. One of the greatest lessons: to use our voices courageously to share the love of God while on Earth and keep our hearts fixated on spending forever with Him in Heaven.

Amy is one of the creators and compilers of Mother Mary, Mother Me, a devotional journal found at mysaintmyhero.com to help you grow closer to the heart of our Blessed Mother.

Lindy WynneNovember 1, 2022Amy D'Ambra, Amy, D'Ambra, My Saint My Hero, My, Saint, Hero, Presenting, Sister, for, Heaven, loss of sister, death, death and dying, heaven, hope, eternal, eternal life, life, sister dyingComment

Losing my Husband with Tina Ferrigno

Losing my Husband with Tina Ferrigno

Tina Ferrigno shares about the loss of her beloved husband ten years ago and tells stories of how the prayers of others carried her through such a difficult time of grief. Looking back, Tina sees all of the ways God blessed her and her husband, Ciro before Ciro's passing. Tina explores how continuing to show up for prayer has transformed her heart and life.

From Loss to Hope with Phyllis Jones

From Loss to Hope with Phyllis Jones

While leading a team of nurses in ambulatory care during Covid, Phyllis Jones lost two loved ones. Be inspired by Phyllis' steadfast faith and hear the miraculous story of how Phyllis was allowed to hold her brother's hand as he left this world to be with God eternally.

Lindy WynneOctober 5, 2022Phyllis Jone, Phyllis, Jones, Covid, ambulatory, ER, emergency care, loss, death, Catholic Podcast, Catholic Podcasts, moms, nurse, doctors, nurses, medical, Lindy Wynne, Lindy, WynneComment

A Good Death with Marianne Ayala

A Good Death with Marianne Ayala

Marianne Ayala has worked throughout her career as a nurse and nurse manager in Palliative Care and Hospice. Learn how to help yourself and your loved ones prepare for a "good death."

Lindy WynneOctober 4, 2022Marianne Ayala, Rene Ayala, Marianne, Ayala, Rene, Death, Dying, Hospice, Catholic Hospice, Palliative Care, Catholic Palliative Care, Catholicism, Catholic Hospital, Anointing of the SickComment

Losing My Brother and Sister with Haydee Marshall Navarro

Losing My Brother and Sister with Haydee Marshall Navarro

Two of Haydee Marshall Navarro's siblings passed away from Fanconi Anemia, a rare genetic disorder at sixteen and twenty-one years old. Haydee shares how she learned to always "show up" in her relationship with God and allow God to heal her broken heart.

Lindy WynneOctober 4, 2022Haydee Navarro, Haydee, Navarro, Fanconi Anemia, Fanconi, Anemia, rare genetic, rare, genetic, disorder, death, loss, grief, siblings, brother, sister, Catholic podcast, Catholic Podcasts, women, moms, Lindy Wynne, Lindy, Wynne, Mamas in SpiritComment

Healing Through the Eucharist with Patty Pablos

Healing Through the Eucharist with Patty Pablos

Patty Pablos shares her path to prayer, starting when she lost her little brother when she was nine and culminating in her devotion to the Eucharist and prayers over her dying mother.

Lindy WynneOctober 3, 2022Patty Pablos, Patty, Pablos, death, dying, loss of brother, brother, Eucharist, Catholic, Catholic Sacrament, Catholic death, Catholic death and dying, Altar, Catholic Altar, bereavementComment

Missing My Mom with Raquel Suh

Missing My Mom with Raquel Suh

Raquel lost her dearest companion--her mom--almost eleven years ago. The loss left a a void in Raquel's life that her "yes" to God has begun to fill. Themes explored are motherhood, mother and daughter relationships, maternal mentors, friendship, sisterhood in the Holy Spirit, guidance, loneliness, postpartum anxiety and faith.

Lindy WynneOctober 2, 2022Catholic Podcast, Catholic Podcasts, mom death, mom dying, loss of mom, loss of mother, mother, daughter, grief, loss, death, dying, death and dyingComment

How to Find God's Light in Our Darkest Experiences with Teresa Guzman

How to Find God's Light in Our Darkest Experiences with Teresa Guzman

Explore how to open our hearts to God's love and healing, even when faced with life's most difficult experiences like the loss of a child. Featuring special guest Teresa Guzman.

Losing My Sister with Vel Mena

Losing My Sister with Vel Mena

Featured guest Vel Mena shares her personal story of journeying with her sister as she was dying from cancer. Themes explored are relationships, presence, sisterhood, friendship cancer, death and dying.